The Wave
Aging Trends in Chautauqua County
We’ll start with a look at long-term care.
While there is no required - or even officially recommended - number of skilled nursing facility beds for a local population, we can compare national and county numbers:
In this brief video clip, Sebrina Barrett, president and CEO of LeadingAge NY, testifies before legislators during the 2025 NYS health budget hearing.
Her comments summarize the severity, and the implications, of the challenges faced by not-for-profit nursing homes across New York State.
A second implication of our county’s aging population is the anticipated need for even more treatment and management of chronic diseases.
Because chronic diseases become more prevalent and require more care as people grow older, the age distribution of a county’s population is a significant public health measure.
The self-evident point is this: an aging population requires more medical care, both treatment and ongoing management of chronic illnesses….
… and, when extended care is needed, an aging population also needs nursing home- and home-based services.